A precious metals futures contract is a legally binding agreement for delivery of gold or silver at an agreed-upon price in the future. A futures exchange standardizes the contracts as to the quantity, quality, time, and place of delivery. Only the price is variable.

Hedgers use these contracts as a way to manage price risk on an expected purchase or sale of the physical metal. Futures also provide speculators with an opportunity to participate in the markets without any physical backing.

Two different positions can be taken: a long (buy) position is an obligation to accept delivery of the physical metal, while a short (sell) position is the obligation to make delivery. The great majority of futures contracts are offset before the delivery date. For example, this occurs when an investor with a long position initiates a short position in the same contract, effectively eliminating the original long position.

Trading futures contracts offers more financial leverage, flexibility, and financial integrity than trading the commodities themselves because they trade at centralized exchanges.

Financial leverage is the ability to trade and manage a high market value product with a fraction of the total value. Trading futures contracts is done with a performance margin, which requires considerably less capital than the physical market. The leverage provides speculators with a higher risk/higher return investment profile.

For example, one futures contract for gold controls 100 troy ounces, or one brick of gold.1 The dollar value of this contract is 100 times the market price for one ounce of gold. If the market is trading at $600 per ounce, the value of the contract is $60,000 ($600 x 100 ounces). Based on exchange margin rules, the margin required to control one contract is only $4,050. So for $4,050, one can control $60,000 worth of gold. As an investor, this gives you the ability to leverage $1 to control roughly $15.

In the futures markets, it is just as easy to initiate a short position as a long position, giving participants a great amount of flexibility. This flexibility provides hedgers with an ability to protect their physical positions and for speculators to take positions based on market expectations.

Gold and silver futures exchanges offer no counterparty risks to participants; this is ensured by the exchanges' clearing services. The exchange acts as a buyer to every seller and vice versa, decreasing the risk should either party default on its responsibilities.

Risk Warning: The above content is for reference only, and does not represent JRFX’s position. JRFX does not assume any form of loss caused by any trading carried out in accordance with this article. Please consult your financial planner for your investment portfolios and manage your own risk.

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